Kitchens and bathrooms have taken center stage in home design due to their attractive return on investment and overall appeal. There is a heightened focus on kitchen design because kitchens are ultimately becoming the hub of the home, where people cook, gather, entertain, watch television, and even work. Whether you are renovating an existing space or building a new custom...
Asheville and the surrounding areas are well known for the beautiful mountains, but designing a home for the mountains of Western North Carolina presents many challenges when considering the elevation, terrain and environmental components of our area. Site analysis is a preliminary step taken by architects to analyze the site slope, site orientation, sun angles, and access. This outcome of...
Stainless steel appliances took the appliance world by storm back in the 1990’s and have dominated the market since. However, there are new finishes on the horizon that can be expected to appear in homes. Will these new finishes be the end of the stainless steel? After finding many consumers and designers sought alternatives to stainless steel, product manufacturers are working...
[caption id="attachment_6861" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] Front Elevation at Night of the Sustainable Living Craftsman[/caption] In a recent blog post by NC Design Online, one of ACM Design's past projects is discussed as one of the favorites currently online. I could find myself immediately at home in this Mountain Craftsman styled home designed by Asheville architect, Amy Conner-Murphy, AIA, of ACM Design and built...
When you hear the term “Dream Home,” what comes to mind? Do you see a 10,000 square foot home? An extravagantly landscaped yard and gardens? A pool? For many years the “American Dream Home” increased in size, but for the past few years, trends show that more Americans are opting for smaller, eco-friendly “Dream Homes.” For a variety of reasons, downsizing...
It seems that regardless of the square footage we have in our homes, we are constantly trying to find new places or ways to store our "stuff." With the internet's abundant supply of information, ideas and websites like Pinterest and Houzz, we have surfed the web to bring you some of the most creative storage solutions. See what you think! For...
Each year the Asheville Home Builder’s Association opens the front doors of many of our area’s newest and most inspirational homes as a part of the Asheville Parade of Homes. This annual event allows you to take part in a self-guided tour of 21 selected homes in the Asheville area and see firsthand the level of quality design and building...
Are you one of more than 34 million people who work from home? If not, by the year 2016 you could join the estimated 63 million people who will telecommute. There is no doubt our world is becoming more technologically advanced, and as a result, our lifestyles and “living-styles” are evolving to keep pace with these changes. Our economy has garnered...
If you’ve ever driven the Blue Ridge Parkway and dreamt of living in the Smoky Mountains or the Southern Appalachians, we’ve compiled a series of complimentary guides rich with information about designing a mountain home. Informed by our decades of experience as mountain home architects, we share expert advice about topics like building on steep slopes, terrain-specific building costs, and materials suited for withstanding the mountain weather. Our passion for creating personalized and heartfelt homes is apparent in all of our work and it is our pleasure to share our expertise with you in these free and informative guides.
